When Stephen Papp was a teenager, he didn’t care much for high school.
“I was one of those students who did the bare mini-mum,” Papp said. “I just wanted to get by.”
It wasn’t until high school when a junior high English teacher changed his perspective, and his life.
“She made me feel like I could do anything academically,” Papp said. Th e teacher challenged him to take her honors class, and soon his career goal changed from law enforcement to education.
Papp, the formerly indifferent student, embarked on a lifetime devoted to helping children learn: first as a teacher at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High, then he became assistant principal at William H. Turner Technical Arts High School in Miami and at Miami Northwestern Senior High, he said.
Papp was promoted to principal at Santa Clara Elementary School in Miami, he said, and this school year, became principal at American Senior High.
He will lead about 1,902 students enrolled in grades 9 - 12.
Born in New Jersey, Papp grew up in Miami Lakes. He is married to a teacher, Jessie Papp, and they live with their children in Bro-ward County.
When the opportunity to be the top administrator at American Senior High became available, he was eager to pursue it and return to a community he knows well.
Papp has many goals for American Senior High that is at 18350 NW 67th Ave. in Hialeah. He wants students to know that “I am here to support you,” Papp said. “I am here to make sure you’re successful. You’re not here to make sure I am successful.”
He also wants to create supportive relationships with students like the one he enjoyed with his former English teacher that allowed him to grow academically.
Th e school has a C rating from the Florida Department of Education. Papp’s goal is to get the school to a B rating and eventually an A.
Papp would also like to see graduation rates improve, from 87 percent to 92 per-cent or higher.
In addition to academics, security is a top priority at American Senior High, Papp said.
A policer officer is on campus at all times and there are security guards inside the building and outdoors, too, he said. Students will enter the campus through
one entrance, which he said will help security keep track of every person who comes in and out of the school.
Students are also required to wear uniforms and they and staff must have identification with them at all times. Visitors will be screened as well.
American Senior High offers a full athletic program for boys and girls, as well as after school activities and clubs. It also offers Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment with Miami-Dade College so that students may earn college credits.
For more information about the school call 305-557-3770 or visit https://americanshs.org.